It's All in the Timing

Chapter Five: One

She sat behind her desk at the Isis foundation. Periodically she glanced up at the clock on the far wall noting that the time was drawing closer and closer to when they would be leaving. She exhaled a heavy sigh realizing that she was being a chicken but not having the strength or the courage to say good-bye. She hadn't seen him since he had outed her cousin as being the next wannabe superhero in town. She had found the news slightly more than amusing. Lois Lane as Stiletto had never occurred to her. She was glad that he had talked her out of it but they hadn't actually seen one another. He had given her the message over the phone from half way across town. He was trying to respect her need for space and she respected that to an extent… still apart of her wanted him to step up, show her that he could be what he claimed he wanted to be in her life but she wouldn't ask him to. She was done putting her heart on the line.

"So I guess I won't see you on the tarmac before we go." Oliver stood in the doorway.

She turned to him not in the least surprised. Clark had rendered her scare reflexes practically obsolete. She gave him a half smile. "I just… have so much work to catch up on. Who knew that running a foundation for infected meteor victims could be so time consuming?" She remarked.

Shoving his hands in his pockets he crossed the room seeming to hesitate on the words that were desperately on the tip of his tongue. "Okay… so I don't normally do this kind of thing… but well I got to know… does this have to do with Clark?" He asked with a raised brow.

She furrowed her brow not sure how to respond. Not sure of how much he knew. Clark didn't seem like the one to confide in Oliver Queen about his relationship woes. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

He rolled his eyes sensing the diversionary tactic from a mile away. Grabbing the chair he turned it backwards and straddled his long legs across it. "Okay I can only assume that somehow our resident good guy found a way to mess up what should have been the beginning of a very promising relationship between the two of you which is why you have taken to hiding out in your Ivory Isis Tower as opposed to saying good-bye out on the tarmac like you normally do." Noticing her confusion he sighed. "Look regardless of what Clark did or didn't say that has you two at odds please understand that his heart was in the right place." He pointed out.

"When did you become Metropolis's own personal Match Maker? Have you taken to being Cupid along with your other Green Arrow duties?" She asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"No… it's just… well Clark has been pretty beaten down when it comes to love… I just think he deserves a break that's all."

"And I'm supposed to be that break… that easy road to get him over the hump that is his love life?"

"No… but you could finally be the one person in Clark's life that he actually gets it right with." He pointed out.

Taking a stand she sighed walking to the far corner of the room. "He did get it right with me… Clark and I are friends, the best of friends…"

"And you don't think you are meant to be anything more?"

"Trust me… if Clark and I were meant to be something more… it would have happened by now. There were more than several opportunities." She smirked wryly.

"Perhaps those weren't the right times. Maybe you guys weren't meant to have your moment in high school or Junior high. Perhaps he wasn't meant to take you in his arms during a slow dance at prom… maybe there is reason why you guys had to wait all this time."

Looking over her shoulder at him she wrapped her arms around herself as though trying to shield her heart from what she believed. "The reason is a certain kryptonite inhabited brunette who is fighting bad guys halfway across the world." She swallowed hard. "It would be nice to believe that there is some greater reason why Clark and I never got to be more than just friends… but the truth is he didn't want me. He wanted Lana… and now that she's gone…" She shrugged slightly as the tears clouded her eyes.

"Chloe you're not the consolation prize…" His voice was so certain that she found it almost hard not to believe him. He took a stand not sure if he was getting through to her or not. "I just think perhaps things happen for a reason. Maybe there is a reason why you had to wait… and even if you can't see it… maybe there is reason why Lana is gone… and you're still here. Maybe you're more important to Clark than you know." He smiled softly. "I have to go." As he approached the door he stopped. "And if you don't think Clark is the one… you know there is always Bart." He heard her chuckle as he walked out hoping that she took his words to heart.

Thirty minutes later…

She was still standing by the window when she felt the rush of wind on her back, slightly blowing her blond tendrils across her cheek. She didn't bother to turn around. Instead she cupped the mug of coffee tighter in her hand bringing it to her lips and taking a sip before acknowledging his presence.

"Clark shouldn't you be on a plane right now?" She asked.

He stared at her… there was no need for him to reply to that. He was faster than a speeding bullet. He could leave an hour from now and still be there before Oliver and his crew touched down and they both knew it.

"One," He stated softly.

She finally looked at him, her brow furrowed in confusion. He stepped closer to her, swallowing hard before he dared to continue. "You said there were one hundred and eighty one times that you thought I should have kissed you… but there was only one time that I was sure that I was kissing you for the right reasons… and that was two nights ago. It was the first time that I was kissing you because I wanted to… not because I was running from my feelings for Lana or trying to create emotions that weren't there. I kissed you for the first time that night because it was the first time in my life that I knew what I wanted." He exhaled deeply. "Yeah you know… I could have kissed you sooner… any of those times that you counted… but it wouldn't have been right. I'm sorry that you had to wait for me… I'm sorry that it took me so long… but I wouldn't change anything because now I know what I feel for you Chloe… and it's real."

"Clark… you're only saying this because Lana…" She began but he cut her off stepping closer to her, invading her personal space.

"This isn't about Lana, Chloe. This is about us. This is about us and our moment to be together… there are a million what if scenarios but none of them matter. What if Lana had stayed… what if you hadn't divorced Jimmy… what if I had saved Lex from himself… we could kill ourselves with all the what if's but it doesn't change where we are now… I'm here asking you to give us a chance."

She opened her mouth but the words weren't there… the fear of all those missed opportunities, gentle but firm rejections, and brokenhearted moments held her back. Instead tears fell onto her cheeks and her lower lip trembled in sorrow. He reached out, wiping them from her face with the pads of his thumbs. His flesh was cool against her heated skin and she reached up wrapping her fingers gently around his wrists. "I just need time." She whispered brokenly looking up into the blue orbs that had once haunted every romantic dream she ever had. There was disappointment in them now… but he nodded accepting her reply.

He nodded slightly feeling less like a superhero and more like the sixteen year old farm boy that could never quite get it right with the object of his affection. Years of growing up and still here he was struggling for the right words always just out of reach keeping him from what he wanted most. Certain aspects had altered but the end result was still the same. He sighed. Leaning in he pressed his lips to the center of her forehead brushing them across her skin. He could smell the slight citrus from her shampoo mixed with her natural feminine scent. Pulling back he looked down and saw that her eyes were still closed. Pressing his forehead to hers he debated on kissing her again. He was so close… less than an inch apart and he could taste her. Instead he pulled back and took a step to put distance between them. She opened her eyes and he gave her his warmest smile. "I'll be back." Before she could say anything else he was super speeding away desperately trying to outrun the fall of his own tears.

Meanwhile…

Closing her eyes against the pain in her chest she exhaled a deep breath wiping away at the tears on her cheeks. Looking around at her empty office, for the first time she felt extremely alone. She always hated when Clark had to go away but this time it was like he was taking a bit of her heart with him without even realizing it. Once again she was that teenage girl unable to keep herself from falling in love with the boy on the farm with the disarming smile.

It was the sound of her phone ringing that jolted her back to the present. Looking down at the caller ID she smiled despite her situation. Connecting the call she sighed. "Lois how is it you always know when I need to hear your voice?" She asked with a chuckle.

"Chloe…"

The sound of his voice created the chill up her spine stopping the warmth that had been spreading fast through her body. His voice was like ice velvet draping her skin. "Davis… where's Lois?" She asked.

"She's here." He stated. His breathing was heavy, his voice straining against his own vocal chords.

She swallowed hard. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing… I wouldn't do anything… I just need to see you. I need you to come to me." He remarked.

"Chloe don't! He's crazy! Just stay away!" Lois yelled from somewhere in the distance. She heard a grunt as flesh hit flesh and she realized he had hit her.

"Lois! Lois! Davis answer me!" She screamed into the phone.

His breathing was almost too loud… it was coming out in heavy gasps and she could almost picture him grasping the phone within his palm fighting against the beast within him.

"Chloe… I didn't want to hurt her… I just... I just need to see you." He stated desperately.

"I'll come to you… just tell me where you are… tell me where you are and I'll be there; just don't hurt Lois."

There was a pause on the other end. "I'm at the Talon…in your apartment. I'll be waiting." And then the line went dead.

It wasn't until she had grabbed her coat and gotten down the stairs that she noticed her hands were shaking. Shoving them into her pockets she looked up briefly and could smell the rain on the horizon and once again she felt that feeling of loneliness come over her not able to know what lye ahead…

Meanwhile…

Oliver's plane touched down a full ten minutes after Clark had been there. He gave them a slight smirk as they emerged fully suited up and ready for action. It only took an hour of asking around before they started to make a connection that those that had gone missing all were seen last with a young man with dark hair, pale skin and stood around six four. It hadn't taken more than another hour to find the field where the bodies were newly buried and for them to piece together that it had all been a set-up… a diversion to get them out of town. And it only took Clark ten minutes after that to get back to Metropolis and to Chloe's apartment.

A lamp was turned over, still flickering on and off as night approached and there in the corner slumped over in a fetal position was Lois. Crouching down he pulled her up checking her face where a large purplish bruise had already formed. There was a small gash on her forehead and as she started to come around he already knew that things were bad.

"Lois… Lois are you all right?" He asked softly.

The sound of his voice seemed to rouse her further and suddenly she was struggling in his arms looking around frantically. "Chloe! Chloe…" She called out as her eyes darted around the ransacked apartment.

"Chloe… where is she Lois?" He asked feeling the beat of his heart accelerate.

She looked up as if just noticing his presence for the first time and when she finally spoke her voice came out frantic on the verge of what sounded to be hysteria. "He took her… that monster took her Clark. He told her to leave with him or he would kill me… so she left… she's gone Clark… and I don't know where to."